By Pamela Garofolo
I have experienced many weather emergencies in the past 10 years while working at The Shores in Ocean City.
Being on a barrier island we regularly deal with what Mother Nature sends us, from severe tidal flooding – to 12 straight days of subfreezing temps and blizzard conditions this past January. I assisted the team evacuate the entire building during hurricanes Irene and Sandy, as well as weathered through (pun intended) many “shelter in place” events, including winter storm Juno.
During these events our goals were to have the residents in our care experience minimal disruptions to their routine and making sure our staffers are safe and fresh. Even though we are a community that provides all services for our residents on our campus, many of the lessons learned and principles apply to those who receive care at home, no matter what stage of dementia.
- Have a plan: Working in a licensed community we are required to have a disaster plan for almost any possible emergency. The website https://www.ready.gov/ is an excellent place for anyone to start. It is easy to navigate and covers many different scenarios. They can help you build an emergency kit with a suggested check list beyond the standard battery run radio and flashlights. There are even pages dedicated to seniors and those with disabilities.
- Have a plan for the helpers: We talk with our staff upon orientation and let them know they may be required to pack a bag and spend the night during weather events. If we evacuate they come with us, and we provide hotel accommodations and meals for them and their families. If you are bringing in care givers to your home, have this conversation with them and their company when they start. Will they be willing to spend the night? Will they come with you if you need to temporarily relocate the person with dementia? Will you help pay for the expense of travel? This should be discussed with unpaid and family caregivers too. Who will spend a few nights with them if needed? Will the person with dementia be safe if no one can get to them? Are you able to take them into your home for a few nights if required?
- Have a plan for pets: Are you sensing a planning theme here? Many people who have dementia rely on their routine and have a difficult time shifting direction. If they walk their dog every day at 5 p.m., they may expect to continue even if there is 3 feet of snow on the ground. Keep in mind dementia is not just being forgetful, it is cognitive loss as well. Cognition includes judgment and reasoning. They may not be able to understand the risk involved walking in the snow without a coat, or will not be willing to leave pets behind if they need to relocate.
- Know when to ask for help and where to get it: I could not talk about weather and emergency preparedness without recognizing our city and county emergency management teams. I suspect all teams are just as wonderful as the ones I know, but they continue to amaze me every time with their kindness, hard work, and knowledge. They are a wealth of resources for up to date information and share notifications about potential events as soon as possible. You do not need to work in a community like ours to participate and utilize your local teams and to sign up for email and phone notifications. The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management even has a special needs registry that is passed on to local and neighborhood teams. Call 211 or visit 211.org for more information on programs and emergency assistance available to you and your loved one. And don’t forget to keep a list of local emergency numbers and post it on your fridge.
- Don’t forget comfort: Remember that kit you made back in tip No. 1? Be sure to add creature comforts and guilty pleasures. As you check to make sure you have enough medication on hand that should include Tylenol or Motrin. Extreme weather can aggravate pain in joints, create sinus headaches, and more. Keep in mind the person with dementia may not be able to communicate this pain and may just appear restless, cranky or difficult. If you are relocating your loved one be sure to think about all aspects of comfort. Take their favorite outfit and old familiar robe. Now is not the time to purchase a new outfit in hopes of getting them to change their clothing. This could create conflict and add to the stress of the day. Be sure to have lots of comfort foods on hand like ice cream, hot chocolate and cookies.
- Don’t panic and keep things light: People with dementia have difficulty understanding the environment around them, but they can read your energy and rely on your calm and strength when the world is confusing to them. Don’t leave the news on, even in the background. If it looks scary or could frighten the person with dementia. Treat it like a slumber party. Plan things to do like bake cookies or fold laundry. One of my favorite work memories was when we evacuated to our sister community in Pitman during Sandy. When we arrived we guided our residents off the bus and into a lounge area where snacks and refreshments were waiting. One of our residents, noticing one of my staff members was very pregnant, became excited and asked if we were all here for a baby shower. Framing this as an opportunity, we proceeded to have an impromptu baby shower sitting in a circle and collecting the resident’s best baby advice.
With New Jersey winter now here, the question is not if we have a weather/snow event, it is a matter of when. A little planning can go a long way to keep you and your loved one safe and secure through potential upcoming weather. Stay warm everyone and “let’s be careful out there.”
Pamela Garofolo is corporate manager of Tapestries Initiatives for United Methodist Communities in Ocean City.
